JOIN USA Delhi court on Saturday served fresh summons to three accused in a money-laundering case related to the Rs 3,600-crore VVIP chopper deal.
The court had already issued an open-ended non-bailable warrant (NBW) against British national and middleman Christian Michel James, seeking his presence in the case.
Special Judge Arvind Kumar re-issued the summons for India-based firm Media Exim Private Limited and its directors R K Nanda and J B Subramaniyam, directing them to be present in court on February 22.
James, Nanda and Subramaniyam set up the firm and reportedly received money from AgustaWestland through a company.
The court order was passed after advocate Naveen Kumar Matta, appearing for the Enforcement Directorate (ED), informed it that the summons issued against the three accused on the last date of hearing could not be executed.
On November 21, the court had issued an open-ended (without any date) NBW against James and summons for the other three accused, saying, “There is prima facie evidence.”
In June, ED had filed a 1,300-page prosecution complaint (equivalent to a charge sheet) in connection with its money-laundering probe in the case.
The agency claimed its investigation into the case had found that James reportedly received Euro 30 million (about Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland, which was nothing but “kickbacks” paid by the firm to execute the deal for the sale of 12 helicopters to India in favour of the firm in the “guise” of genuine transactions for performing multiple work contracts in the country.